An Iowa couple is warning parents not to let others hold or kiss their newborn babies, after their own baby girl died from a virus she likely picked up when someone kissed her.

Nicole and Shane Sifrit, of west Des Moines, Iowa, welcomed their baby girl Mariana on July 1 and married one week later. But two hours after the ceremony, they noticed that week-old Mariana was no longer responding. They left their own wedding early to rush to a local hospital.

There, they learned Mariana had contracted meningitis HSV-1, a brain infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. It’s the same virus that causes genital herpes and cold sores.

Both the Sifrits tested negative for the virus, which suggested that their daughter had picked up the virus from someone who had held or kissed her.

Within hours of Mariana’s admission to hospital, her organs began failing and she stopped breathing. Though doctors at the hospital worked on her intensively, Mariana was removed from life support Tuesday and died in her father’s arms.

Nicole Sifrit posted the news to her Facebook page Tuesday morning.

The Sifrits will never know how their baby contracted the virus, but they say have learned that even if someone does not have an open cold sore or symptoms of HSV-1, they could still carry the virus.

In fact, it’s estimated that 50 to 80 per cent of U.S. adults are infected with HSV-1, though most don’t have symptoms.

The virus can flare up and cause cold sores or remain dormant in the body for years. If an infected person kisses the child on their face or hands, the virus can then easily be transferred to the child’s mouth.

Because newborns’ immune systems are so weak when they are born, even a common virus such as HSV-1 can spread rapidly through a baby’s body. In rare cases, such as Mariana’s, it travels to the brain.

In the days before Mariana’s death, Nicole Sifrit warned other parents not to let too many people hold their babies and ensure they always wash their hands

"Keep your babies isolated. Don't let just anyone come visit them,” she told CNN affiliate WHOTV.com.

“Make sure they are constantly washing their hands. Don't let people kiss your baby. Make sure they ask before they pick up your baby."

In their Facebook post announcing Mariana’s death, they write “she made a huge impact on the world and we hope with Mariana's Story, we save numerous newborns life (sic).”